Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a grand welcome in Male on Friday as he arrived in the Maldives for a two-day state visit, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the island nation’s independence and the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives.
President Mohamed Muizzu and senior Maldivian ministers received PM Modi upon arrival. Members of the Indian diaspora, waving national flags and chanting “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” greeted him with visible excitement. A cultural performance hosted by the Indian community was also presented in his honour, which PM Modi watched alongside President Muizzu.
The Maldivian capital was decked with posters, banners, and Indian flags ahead of the high-profile visit, underlining the significance of the occasion.
The Maldivian President’s Office posted on X: “The Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Shri @narendramodi arrives in the Maldives on a state visit, at the invitation of His Excellency President Dr @MMuizzu. This historic visit is Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to the Maldives since assuming his third term, and coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Maldives’ independence as well as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and India.”
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Muizzu to explore opportunities for enhancing cooperation in key areas including trade, infrastructure, energy, and security.
India has been a long-standing development partner of the Maldives, contributing significantly to infrastructure projects, emergency relief, and capacity building over the years. This visit marks PM Modi’s third trip to the Maldives and the first by any foreign head of state during President Muizzu’s tenure.
